Florida’s Cruise Ship NIGHTMARE—Norovirus OUTBREAK Strikes Again on Packed Ship!
A norovirus outbreak turned a dreamy Florida cruise into a nasty nightmare—marking the ship’s second battle with the bug in 2025. 🌐 #News #FortLauderdaleFL #Florida #Travel
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — A norovirus outbreak hit the Coral Princess, a Princess Cruises ship, last week during a nearly three-week journey to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The illness affected 82 people, with 69 of the 1,906 passengers and 13 of the 895 crew members reporting vomiting and diarrhea over the 16-day voyage, that departed from San Pedro, California. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the infections.
Second Outbreak of 2025 on Aging Vessel
This marked the second norovirus outbreak on the Coral Princess in 2025, following an earlier incident in January that sickened 128 vacationers and 20 crew members during a two-week trip.
The 23-year-old, 965-foot-long ship departed Los Angeles on February 21, stopping in Mexico, Costa Rica, Aruba, and the Panama Canal before docking in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday, March 9. The CDC’s vessel sanitation program first received reports of the illness on March 7.
Response Measures Taken Onboard
To control the spread, the cruise liner isolated affected passengers and crew, ramped up cleaning and disinfection efforts, and collected stool samples for testing. Despite these actions, the outbreak added to a troubling trend: it was the ninth gastrointestinal illness reported on cruise ships in the first three months of 2025.
The CDC noted that norovirus had already been tied to five such cases earlier this year, with 18 total outbreaks recorded on cruise ships in 2024.
A Persistent Problem for Cruise Industry
The Coral Princess completed its journey as planned, but the recurring health issues raised concerns. Princess Cruises did not provide an immediate response to inquiries from media.
With this latest outbreak, the cruise industry continues to grapple with gastrointestinal illnesses, a challenge evident in both this year’s nine incidents and last year’s 18 reported cases.
A Moment for Reflection
We pause to recognize the passengers and crew of the Coral Princess who endured the distressing norovirus outbreak, their resilience shining through a tough ordeal. The broader cruise community, from staff to travelers, feels the weight of these recurring incidents, united in facing an ongoing challenge. Looking ahead, hope persists that stronger measures and vigilance will steer future voyages toward safer, smoother waters. Thanks for reading this article, we appreciate it! Until next time, remember: you deserve to feel good today! — Jack and Kitty Norton, Founders and Editors
RELATED TOPICS: California | Cruise Ships | Florida | Travel
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
We value your feedback! Did you find this article informative, inspiring, or thought-provoking? Leave a comment below and join the discussion. We appreciate your opinion and look forward to hearing from you!
